Self-regulating water-feeder for boilers.



A. PINAGUHIOTTI. SELF REGULATING WATER FEEDER FOR BOILERS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1913.

1, 5,092 Patented Jan.20,1914.

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A. PINAUGHIOTTI. SELF REGULATING WATER FEEDER FOR BOILERS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1913 1,085,092 Patented Jan.20,1914.

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AMERIGO PINACCHIOTTI,

or HANCOCK, MICHIGAN.

SELF-REGULATING WATER-FEEDER FOR BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

Application filed March 24, 1913. Serial No. 756,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMERIco PINAG- CHIOTTI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hancock, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Regulating ater-Feeders for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in self regulating water feeders for boilers, and is designed to provide a simple and reliable automatic device for maintaining a determined and fixed water level in the boiler to which the device is attached.

The invention consists essentially in the utilization, in connection with the valve in the feed water pipe to the boiler, of a gravity device comprising a balanced water tank in communication with the water space and steam space of the boiler, so connected that a change in the level of the water line of the boiler is operable on the tank to change its position, and in its movement as the position of the tank changes, the valve is opened or closed.

The invention further consists in certain novel features and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the novel features of my invention. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a portion of the gravity tank and its supporting bar. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the apparatus and its attaching parts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail, sectional view of a portion of Fig. 3.

As before stated the action of the regulator is caused by gravity, and the appliance is attached to a boiler front, or other stationary object, so that the movable parts are properly supported. In Fig. 3, the water gage or metallic tubular column 1 is secured to a flanged projection 2 of a sta tionary object, by means of the flanged bracket arm 4. At its lower end, the tube or column 1 has an inlet opening through the coupling 5 to which is bolted a pipe 6 from the water space of the boiler, not shown. An extension 7 is projected from the extreme lower end of the tube 1 and a clean out valve indicated at 8 is provided, for the column 1.

The upper open end of the tube 1 is closed by the flange or head 9 of the pipe 10, which pipe is connected to the steam space of a boiler. By these connections, the water pipe 6 to the water space of the boiler and the steam pipe 10 to the steam space of the boiler, both water and steam flow to the tube 1 from the boiler, and the level of the water in the boiler is reflected in the tube as shown in Fig. 3. The upper portion of the tube 1 contains steam under boiler pressure, and the lower portion contains water, and the water level may be ascertained from the water glass tube 11 which is located in predetermined relation to the tube 1, which in turn is situated in predetermined position with relation to the boiler.

The water glass 11 is connected to the water and steam ends of the tube 1 by means of flexible pipes designated broadly as 12 and 13 and of elbow form. These pipes have loose, but water and steam tight joints, as illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a loose joint in the water pipe is shown. It will be seen that the pipe section 14 is provided with a screw collar or sleeve 15 and that this pipe is adapted to telescope within the end of the pipe section 16 which is closed at its end by the screw plug 17. A similar loose joint is indicated at 18, and also at 19 in the water pipe 12, and loose joints of a similar construction are indicated in the steam pipe at 20, 21 and 22. These loose joints are to provide for movement of a balanced tank 23 which is also under both steam and water at boiler pressure. The tank is of usual construction of similar vessels of this character, closed at one end, and at its open end formed with a threaded sleeve 2 1 to screw into the threaded cap or casting 25. This cap is provided with a steam coupling 26 and a water coupling 27 for the pipe connection 29 to the steam pipe 13 and the connection 30 to the water pipe 12.

The cap 25 has secured thereto a shaft or bar 31, of suitable length and required size, upon which a weight or balance 32 is movable, and which weight may be held in adjusted position by means of the bolt or set screw 33, as will be understood.

The tank, although connected to the steam and water pipes, is supported free of them and the loose joints in the pipes permit the tank to oscillate upon the knife edge 34. of a stud or shaft 35 which is fixed in the rigidly supported tube 1 by means of the threaded boss 36 integral therewith. The knife edge end of the shaft is inserted into and through the opening 37 in the solid portion of the head 25, as seen clearly in Fig. 2, and the knife edge permits oscillation of the tank when motion is imparted thereto.

By its movement, the tank performs the function of controlling the passage of water through the water pipe or feed pipe 38 from the pump to the boiler. The water passes through the valve casing 42 l5 from left to right in Fig. 1. The tank 23 is connected to the valve stem M3 by means of the links and 56 and the threaded sleeve or turn buckle 57, by means of which the connection may be varied as to its length. A clean out valve 58 in the pipe 59 is provided for emptying the water glass and tank.

An alarm is indicated in Fig. 3 to indicate and notify radical changes in the water level of the boiler. This alarm comprises a float 48 in the tube 1, and the stem 49 with its head 50 is adapted to contact with the lever 51 of the whistle 52 should the water fall to an undesirable level. Should the water rise to an excessive level, the lever will be struck by the boss at.

The tank 23 is connected to the valve stem 4:6 by means of the links 55, 56, and the threaded sleeve or turn buckle 57, by means of which the connection may be varied as to its length as will be understood. A clean out valve 58 in the pipe 59 is provided for emptying the water glass and tank.

It will be understood that the water and steam from the boiler have unobstructed flow, at all times, to the tank through the loose or flexible connections and tube. In starting steam in a boiler with one of these appliances attached thereto, the gravity or balancing tank is set in position, and balanced by the counterweight, to open the valve in the feed water pipe. To accomplish this condition the tank is raised and oscillates on the knife edge as a pivot. The valve is open and water is pumped to the boiler through pipe 38 and from the boiler the water flows into the regulating apparatus.

When a sufiicient supply of water has passed to the boiler, the Weight of the water in the tank overcomes the counterweight, which has been adjusted to predetermined position, the tank falls by gravity and closes the valve. As the water in the boiler is transformed into steam and distributed for use, the water level falls, not only in the boiler but in the tank 23. The decrease in weight of the contents of the tank now permits the counterbalance to automatically raise the tank to again open the valve 39 and the supply of water to the boiler is replenished. This action of the appliance is continued automatically and the water is supplied to the boiler when needed, and cut off therefrom when not needed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is In a self regulating water feeder for boilers including a feed pipe and valve, a column in communication with a boiler for steam and water, a horizontal arm projected from the column and formed with a knife edge, a tank having as an integral part a perforated casting supported 011 the knife edge, a supporting bar projected from the casting and a counterbalance 011 the bar, a steam pipe from the upper part of the column to the top of the tank above the knife edge and a water pipe from the column to the bottom of the tank below the knife edge, said pipes including horizontal and vertical sections and telescopic joints between the sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMERIGO PINACCHIOTTI. \Vitnesses SILvio Mioi-rnnorrr, JOSEPH M. BORLACE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

